Who is affected by sleep paralysis

The most commonly prescribed medications are stimulants and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs , such as fluoxetine Prozac. Stimulants help you stay awake. Your doctor may order a sleep study called a polysomnography. This type of study requires an overnight stay at a hospital or sleep center. In this study, a healthcare provider will place electrodes on your chin, scalp, and at the outer edge of your eyelids.

The electrodes measure electrical activity in your muscles and brain waves. In some cases, a camera will record your movements during sleep. Vaidya believes that the key to mitigating sleep paralysis is improving sleep hygiene by sticking to a good bedtime routine, which includes:. You can minimize symptoms or the frequency of episodes with a few simple lifestyle changes, such as:.

If you have a mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression, taking an antidepressant may diminish episodes of sleep paralysis. Antidepressants can help reduce the number of dreams you have, which lessens sleep paralysis.

If the condition is causing you distress or affecting the quality of your sleep, then you may want to see a doctor. Sleep paralysis, or waking up with an inability to move or speak, can be anxiety-inducing but it isn't generally considered life-threatening. If you think you're seeing, smelling, hearing, tasting, or feeling things when you're half asleep, you may be experiencing hypnagogic hallucinations. We explain the symptoms and causes of this poorly understood sleep disorder.

Sleep is as important to your physical and mental health as food and water. Find out what makes for healthy sleep, and get tips and tricks for…. This article lists 17 evidence-based tips to sleep better at night. Getting good sleep is very important for optimal health. Experts say you can prepare for the end of daylight saving time for days in advance. Among the recommendations is outdoor physical activity.

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It may sound like something out of a horror flick, but this experience, known as sleep paralysis, is a very real phenomenon. Sleep paralysis is a type of parasomnia , or sleep disorder. It typically occurs when you are either falling asleep hypnogogic or when you are waking up hypnopompic.

During both of these times, your eyes move quickly and dreams occur as part of rapid eye movement REM sleep, but your muscles are very relaxed. If you wake up before this stage ends, you may realize that you are unable to move or speak. A subset of people also experience hallucinations. These can include:. Suddenly falling asleep during the day could be a sign of narcolepsy, a rare brain disorder that causes a person to fall asleep or lose muscle control at unexpected or inappropriate times.

There is no specific treatment for sleep paralysis, but stress management, maintaining a regular sleep schedule, and observing good sleep habits can reduce the likelihood of sleep paralysis. Understanding the physiology of sleep and the mechanism for sleep paralysis is an important step to overcoming it.

Ongoing stress and disruption in the sleep cycle can have serious health implications. Healthy sleep habits are not just necessary for sleep paralysis management, but for overall health and wellness. Read the article in Spanish. Firm mattresses may suit people who want a supportive sleep surface. Learn about some of the best firm mattress options here. Using wrist accelerometers to generate data about sleep, researchers identified associations between sleep properties and mental health conditions.

There is a range of affordable mattresses available to order online. Learn about the best options…. Learn more. Everything you need to know about sleep paralysis. What is sleep paralysis? Causes Signs and symptoms Diagnosis Tips for better sleep Sleep paralysis is a feeling of being unable to move, either at the onset of sleep or upon awakening.